Immune system pathogens Flashcards
what is the immune system ?
collection of structures and processes within the body
protect against disease or other potentially damaging foreign bodies
what are the functions of the immune system ?
- protect humans from pathogenic microorganisms
-infection
-disease
what is a pathogenic microorganism ?
microorganism capable of causing infection and / or disease
what is an infection ?
ability of pathogen to enter host , multiply and stimulate an immune response
what is a disease ?
clinical manifestations associated with infection
what is immunology ?
study of the components and function of the immune system
what does the immune system protect the body against ?
microorganisms
microbial toxins
tumour cells
what is a pathogen ?
is an infectious agent “ germ” that causes disease or illness in a host
what is a host ?
is the organism in which a parasite or pathogen does damage
what is a parasite ?
any organism that has a negative effect on another organism which it has close contact
what is pathogenesis ?
the step by step development of a disease from infection by a pathogen to termination of either the germ or the host
what is virulence ( potency ) ?
how well a pathogen causes disease
inversely associated to how well it spreads
what is a vector ?
the item that transfers the pathogen to its host
vectors are vehicles that transports pathogens from one host to another
what are examples of a vector ?
water , blood , ticks , mosquitoes
what is transmission ?
passing of disease from an infected individual to unaffected individual
passed by means of a vector
what is endemic ?
a common disease that occurs at a constant , but low , rate in a specific population
what is a epidemic ?
when an endemic disease occurs more frequently that expected , in a given area over a given time period
what is a pandemic ?
it is an epidemic of infectious disease that has spread over a larger area
what is eradication ?
the reduction of a pathogen and its subsequent disease to zero
what is the only eradicated pathogen ?
small pox virus
are virus considered living ?
non living
what are the two parts of viruses ?
capsid : protein coat
nucleic acids : DNA or RNA
what is the method of viruses ?
hijack a living host cell and use cellular machinery to replicate and build new virus particles
what are some examples of viruses ?
HIV
influenza
rhinovirus
small pox
polio
are bacteria pathogenic ?
no
are bacteria prokaryotic or eukaryotic ?
prokaryotic
what are fungi pathogens ?
decomposers that occasionally don’t wait until an organism is dead to feed on it
what are parasitic worms ?
a pathogen that causes intestinal and other infections
what are protozoa?
are unicellular animal-like protists
what are prions ?
responsible for degenerative disorders of the central nervous system
lack DNA or RNA and only consist of only protein
sponge-like holes in the brain
what is direct contact transmission ?
kissing
shaking hands
touching open wounds
sexual contact
what is indirect transmission ?
objects
air
food
water
vectors
where are portals of entry for disease transmissions ?
respiratory tract
gastrointestinal tract
mucous membranes
penetration
what are some prevention / treatment options for pathogen defence ?
antibiotics
antifungals
vaccinations
antivirals
mebendazole
antibody therapies
what does vaccine do to the body’s immune system ?
can fight a disease it has not come into contact with before
